Fuel-supply for motors.



0. W. HELWEG 61 E J. MATTHEWS FUEL SUPPLY NH? MOTORS, A-EPLICATIOH FILED AUG. I4. 1916 Pawn-bed Mm 26, 3.918;

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OTTO W. HEI WIG AND EMIL J. MATTHEWS, F DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

FUEL-suret non Morons.

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Application filed August 14;, 1916. Serial No. 114,729.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, OTTo W. Hnnwre and EMiL J. MATTHEWS, citizens of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fuel-Supply for Motors, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to the fuel supply of motors and more particularly to the sup ply of an explosive mixture for an internal combustion engine forming part of the power plant of an automobile, truck or motor. boat.

The primary object of our invention is the provision of simple and effective means in connection with an internal combustion engine. and especially the exhaust manifold thereof, for generating steam which may be admitted to the intake manifold of the engine to produce a richer and better explosive mixture in connection with the usual fuel of the engine. I

A further object of our invention is to provide a simple, durable and inexpensive steam generator that may be easily and quickly installed in connection with an internal combustion engine, without material alteration, and even though the steam generator should be neglected, the usual opera tion of the engine is not interfered with. The purpose of the steam generator. however, is to materially increase the efficiency of the internal combustion engine and since it is a well known fact that steam admitted to the intake manifold produces a better explosive mixture, it is desirable to use an automatic steam generator which is compact, requires little attention, and can be easily installed.

The above and other objects are accomplished by a steam generating apparatus that will be hereinafter specifically described and then claimed, and reference will now be had to the drawing, wherein- Figure 1,is an elevation of the apparatus, partly broken away and partly in section, in connection with an internal combustion engine and the exhaust manifold thereof, an

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on the 1ine'II-II of Fig. 1, showing the con densate chamber in communication with the tank.

In the drawing, 1 denotesa conventional form of internal combustion engine having an'cxhaust manifold 2, an intake manifold 3 and a carburetor 4 connected to the intake manifold.

Mounted on top of the engine lvor at a convenient place in a plane above the exhaust manifold 2 is a reservoir or tank 5 having a filling opening normally closed by Specification of Letters I 'atent. Patented Mai. 26, 1918., if

a cap 6. The reservoir or tank 5 is adapted to contain water and at one end of said reservoir or tank in a sight gage 7 by which the level or quantity of water within the reservoir or tank 5 may be determined.

In the exhaust manifold 2 is a coiled tube or conduit 8 providing a sinuous or tortuous passage throughout the greater part of the manifold. The ends of the coiled tube extend through the walls of the exhaust manifold and one end of the coiled tube is connected by a pipe or conduit 9 to the bottom of the reservoir or tank 5 or the base of the sight gage 7, soithat the contents of the reservoir or tank 5 may flow by gravity into the coiled tube 8. The opposite end of the coiled tube 8 is connected by a pipe or conduit 10 to a condensate chamber 11 on top of the reservoir or tank 5 and in communication therewith, said condensate chamber being connected by a pipe or conduit 12 to the intake manifold 3, preferably below the branched portion thereof. The pipe or conduit 12 may be connected to the carburetor 4 andextcnd in proximity to the Venturi tube of the carbureter so that the steam will commingle with the fuel.

The exhaust gases, fumes and waste products from the engine, passing through the exhaust manifold 2, heats the water within the coiled tube 8 and generates steam which will pass through the pipe 10, condensate chamber 11 and pipe 12 into the intake manifold 3 and provide a better explosive mixture therein from the carbureter 4. Any watcr'passin'g upwardly through the pipe 10 will be collected by the condensate chamber 11 and returned to the reservoir or tank 5, said condensate chamber precluding any danger of water entering the intake manifold 3. i

We have found that the steam generating apparatus as now in use is beneficial to a motor insomuch that the steam admitted thereto'euts grease, liberatescarbon, cleans the spark plugs and other parts of a 1110- tor, saves considerable gasolene or other fuel, andinsures a smooth running-of the motor,

all of these advantages contributing to the operation of motor driven automobiles.

The steam generating apparatus is operated independently of, any radiator cooling system consequently any heating of the contents of the reservoir or tank 5 contributes to a greater generation of steam and aflords a constant supply for the intakemanifold when the reservoir or tank is full and the.

engine in operation.

It is thought that the utility of our steam generating apparatus will be apparent without further description, and while in the drawing there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of our invention, it is to be understood that the structural elements are susceptible to suchvariations andsnodifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

-Whatwe claim is 1".- A steam generating apparatus for internal combustion engines, having anexhaust manifold'above an intake manifold, comprising a reservoir arranged above said manifolds and adapted to contain water, a

: coiled tube adapted to be mounted in the exhaust manifold-of the internal combustion engine, a "pipe connecting said reservoir to one end of said coiled tube, a condensate chamber. supported by said reservoir in communication therewith, a pipe connecting the opposite end of said coilcd'tube to said condensate-chamber, and a pipe adapted to connaeoploa tend throughout that part of the manifold adjacent the cylinders of the engine, a pipe connecting the bottom of said reservoir to one endof said coiled tube, a pipe establishing communication between the opposite end of said coiled tube and the top of said reservoir, and another pipe establishing communication between the top of said reservoir and the intake manifold of the :engine. 3. The combinationwith a power plant including an engine, a carbureter, an intake manifold connecting the .carbureterto the,

cylinder-of the engine, and an exhaust mam-- fold for the engine, of a Water tank, .a condensate chamber 1n communication there with, a pipe connecting .said condensate chamber to said intake manifold independent of said carbnreter, a coil in said exhaust manifold, and adapted'to receive waterfrom said tank, and a pipe adapted to'conduct,

steam from said coil to said condensate chamber.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signaturcs in presence of two witnesses.

- OTTO W. HELWIG.

v EMIL J. MATTHEWS. Witnesses:

KARL H. -BUTLER, ANNA M. Donn. 

